Ganged coaxial connector assembly with removable connector-cable configuration

Abstract

A ganged connector assembly includes: a plurality of coaxial connectors, each of the coaxial connectors connected with a respective coaxial cable extending rearwardly therefrom, each of the coaxial connectors including an inner contact and an outer body that is electrically separated from the inner contact; a shell having a plurality of cavities; and a plurality of rear bodies, each of the rear bodies encircling a respective outer body, each of the rear bodies mounted in a respective cavity of the shell. Each of the rear bodies includes a first locking feature. A second locking feature is located in each of the cavities and is fixed relative to the shell. The first and second locking features are configured such that rotation of a first of the plurality of rear bodies relative to the shell moves the first rear body between locked and unlocked positions, wherein in the locked position a respective first connector and respective first cable are secured with the shell within a respective cavity, and in the unlocked position the first connector and first cable can be removed from the shell without removing the remaining connectors and cables.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A ganged connector assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of coaxial connectors, each of the coaxial connectors connected with a respective coaxial cable extending rearwardly therefrom, each of the coaxial connectors including an inner contact and an outer body that is electrically separated from the inner contact; 
 a shell having a plurality of cavities; 
 a plurality of rear bodies, each of the rear bodies encircling a respective outer body, each of the rear bodies mounted in a respective cavity of the shell; 
 wherein each of the rear bodies includes a first locking feature; 
 wherein a second locking feature is located in each of the cavities and is fixed relative to the shell; 
 wherein the first and second locking features are configured such that rotation of a first of the plurality of rear bodies relative to the shell moves the first rear body between locked and unlocked positions, wherein in the locked position a respective first connector and respective first cable are secured with the shell within a respective cavity, and in the unlocked position the first connector and first cable can be removed from the shell without removing the remaining connectors and cables. 
 
     
     
       2. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of retainer rings, each of the retainer rings fixed within a respective cavity, wherein each retainer ring includes the second locking feature. 
     
     
       3. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member associated with the first coaxial connector, the biasing member biasing the first rear body rearwardly, wherein the biasing member maintains the first rear body in the locked position. 
     
     
       4. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first locking feature comprises a radially-outward tab, and the second locking feature comprises a discontinuous lip with a first gap, and wherein the first gap is sized to permit the tab to pass forwardly and rearwardly therethrough in the unlocked position, and the lip prevents the tab from rearward movement in the locked position. 
     
     
       5. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 4 , wherein the lip includes a recess, the recess being sized and configured to prevent the tab from passing rearwardly therethrough. 
     
     
       6. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 5 , wherein the tab includes a main body and wings extending from opposite sides of the main body, wherein the recess is a second gap, and wherein in the locked position the main body is positioned in the second gap and the wings engage the lip. 
     
     
       7. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first connector and the shell include non-rotation features that engage to prevent rotation of the first connector relative to the shell in the unlocked position. 
     
     
       8. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first connector and the first rear body include non-rotation features that engage to prevent rotation of the first connector relative to the first rear body in the unlocked position. 
     
     
       9. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second locking features comprise first and second helical threads. 
     
     
       10. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of retainer rings, each of the retainer rings fixed within a respective cavity, wherein each retainer ring includes the second thread. 
     
     
       11. A ganged connector assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of coaxial connectors, each of the coaxial connectors connected with a respective coaxial cable extending rearwardly therefrom, each of the coaxial connectors including an inner contact and an outer body that is electrically separated from the inner contact; 
 a shell having a plurality of cavities; 
 a plurality of rear bodies, each of the rear bodies encircling a respective outer body, each of the rear bodies mounted in a respective cavity of the shell; 
 wherein each of the rear bodies includes a radially-outward tab; 
 a plurality of retainer rings, each of the retainer rings located in a respective cavity and fixed relative to the shell, each of the retainer rings including a discontinuous lip having a first gap and a recess; 
 wherein the tabs, lips, first gaps and recesses are configured such that rotation of a first of the plurality of rear bodies relative to a first of the retainer rings moves the first rear body between locked and unlocked positions, wherein in the locked position a respective first tab is received in a respective first recess to secure a respective first connector and respective first cable with the shell within a respective cavity, and in the unlocked position the tab may pass through the first gap to enable the first connector and first cable to be removed from the shell without removing the remaining connectors and cables. 
 
     
     
       12. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 11 , wherein the tab includes a main body and wings extending from opposite sides of the main body, wherein the recess is a second gap, and wherein in the locked position the main body is positioned in the second gap and the wings engage the lip. 
     
     
       13. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 11 , further comprising a biasing member associated with the first coaxial connector, the biasing member biasing the first rear body rearwardly, wherein the biasing member maintains the first rear body in the locked position. 
     
     
       14. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 11 , wherein the first connector and the shell include non-rotation features that engage to prevent rotation of the first connector relative to the shell in the unlocked position. 
     
     
       15. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 11 , wherein the first connector and the first rear body include non-rotation features that engage to prevent rotation of the first connector relative to the first rear body in the unlocked position. 
     
     
       16. A ganged connector assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of coaxial connectors, each of the coaxial connectors connected with a respective coaxial cable extending rearwardly therefrom, each of the coaxial connectors including an inner contact and an outer body that is electrically separated from the inner contact; 
 a shell having a plurality of cavities; 
 a plurality of rear bodies, each of the rear bodies encircling a respective outer body, each of the rear bodies mounted in a respective cavity of the shell; 
 wherein each of the rear bodies includes a radially-outward tab; 
 a plurality of retainer rings, each of the retainer rings located in a respective cavity and fixed relative to the shell, each of the retainer rings including a discontinuous lip having a first gap and a recess; 
 a plurality of biasing members, each associated with a coaxial connector; 
 wherein the tabs, lips, first gaps and recesses are configured such that rotation of a first of the plurality of rear bodies relative to a first of the retainer rings moves the first rear body between locked and unlocked positions, wherein in the locked position a respective first tab is received in a respective first recess to secure a respective first connector and respective first cable with the shell within a respective cavity, and in the unlocked position the tab may pass through the first gap to enable the first connector and first cable to be removed from the shell without removing the remaining connectors and cables; 
 and wherein a first of the plurality of biasing members is positioned between the first rear body and the outer body of the first coaxial connector, the biasing member biasing the outer body of the first coaxial connector forwardly and the first rear body rearwardly, such that in the locked position the first biasing member urges the first tab to remain in the first recess. 
 
     
     
       17. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 16 , wherein the first connector and the shell include non-rotation features that engage to prevent rotation of the first connector relative to the shell in the unlocked position. 
     
     
       18. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 17 , wherein the non-rotation features comprise engaging hex faces. 
     
     
       19. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 16 , wherein the first connector and the first rear body include non-rotation features that engage to prevent rotation of the first connector relative to the first rear body in the unlocked position. 
     
     
       20. The ganged connector assembly defined in  claim 19 , wherein the non-rotation features comprise engaging hex faces.